落とし穴外伝：わくわくが止まらない (Part2)
"Yes. I think it’s a wonderful thing, truly. Besides, what’s wrong with being like a child? Back on Earth, Pokémon is a legendary franchise enjoyed by everyone from toddlers to adults. There’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, I’m just happy that Hifi has found something she can enjoy like this."
"Indeed. Hifi, you work tirelessly every day as the leader of your nation; it is only right that you have such diversions. Besides, I am quite fond of games myself. I would never dream of disparaging them."
"O-oh, is that so?"
While I stood there, taken aback by their unexpected reaction, the two of them continued their conversation.
"More than anything, I know all too well that feeling of being unable to think of anything but the release date. Right, Taizo?"
"Indeed. The night before something you truly desire is released, you spend your time meticulously planning your 'schedule for tomorrow.' Back in my day, I had a set routine every month for when the science journals would arrive. The intensity of that anticipation is a direct reflection of how much you love the thing, how much it makes your heart race."
"Exactly, exactly! Seeing new research tools or reading a fresh paper is genuinely thrilling. I get just as excited for a new game!"
"I feel the same. A game is a form of art, a crystallization of science. Even if we make excuses like that, the underlying truth is simply that it’s fun. There’s no reason to deny that."
Both of them laughed as they shared their feelings.
"I see. I suppose I, too, feel my heart race when I think of the new adventures waiting for me."
"Haha, that’s great. Don’t you think it’s amazing that a game can still give you that kind of sensation?"
"It truly is. I wonder how long it has been since I felt this way?"
I have lived a long life, yet have I ever before waited so purely and simply for the arrival of a specific day?
"Don't ever forget that feeling. It’s something worth holding onto forever. Many people leave that part of themselves behind in childhood, you know."
"That’s true. Adults were all children once, after all. It’s a shame how many people forget what that felt like."
"It cannot be helped. Life is a difficult journey, after all."
Indeed, the path I have walked to reach this point was far from easy. Perhaps that is why it was one of the things I had left behind—if I hadn't, the burden of continuing to live might have become too heavy to bear.
"Ah... so it is alright for me to enjoy myself, then."
The words escaped my lips before I could stop them. To simply enjoy something—I hadn't done that in such a long, long time. I hadn't even thought it was something I was permitted to do.
"Yes. Enjoyment is vital. You should keep finding more things to love from here on out."
"Though, if you ask me, you’ve been tagging along with Yuki and the others for ages—going to the beach in summer, testing your courage, watching fireworks, building snowmen at the winter festival... you’ve played plenty. It feels a bit late to be saying this now, don't you think?"
"Ugh."
"Well, it just goes to show how earnest you’ve been, Hifi. Anyway, to make sure we can enjoy ourselves properly, let’s eat, and then I’m going to absolutely crush you in Pokémon."
"You asked for it! I’ve put real effort into my team—calculating effort values and perfecting move sets! My Pokémon won’t go down so easily!"
"Haha, this is wonderful. I shall join in as well. Now, as they say, an army marches on its stomach. Let us eat."
That day, I managed to scrape together a single victory against Comet and Taizo. I suppose I shall need to devise a strategy to defeat them both in the new titles, using this win as my foundation.
Ah, so this is what it feels like to be truly excited. With Pokémon leading the charge this month, followed by titles like *Shin Megami Tensei V* and *Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society*, the thrill simply won't stop.